06.12.2025 16:29
In a landmark development that could reshape the financial landscape, BPCE, France's second-largest financial institution and a banking behemoth with assets exceeding €1 trillion, is set to empower millions of its clients with direct access to cryptocurrencies. Beginning on December 8th, customers will be able to purchase Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and USD Coin (USDC) directly within BPCE's user-friendly mobile banking applications. This groundbreaking initiative, initially reported by the online publication The Big Whale, signifies a major stride for Europe in integrating digital asset transactions into the established banking ecosystem.
The initial phase of this ambitious rollout, as detailed in an exclusive report by Raphaël Bloch, a co-founder of the on-chain analytics firm TheBigWhale, will see four of BPCE's twenty-nine regional banks participating. This strategic launch aims to encompass approximately two million clients, with Banque Populaire Île-de-France and Caisse d’Épargne Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur being among the first to offer this innovative service. The broader objective is a complete integration across all remaining regional banks by 2026, contingent upon the success and performance metrics observed during this initial deployment.
The mechanics of this new offering involve customers setting up a dedicated digital asset account, available for a monthly fee of €2.99, within BPCE's existing banking applications. Transactions will incur a trading fee of 1.5%. The operational backbone for this crypto service will be Hexarq, BPCE's specialized subsidiary, which secured its PSAN (Digital Asset Service Provider) authorization nearly a year ago. This certification underscores BPCE's commitment to operating within France's increasingly stringent regulatory framework for digital assets. The timing of this launch is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with France's active engagement with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation and ongoing discussions about a potential tax on "unproductive wealth" held in crypto assets.
